More on the 2013 Silver Buffalo recipients’ service to youth

The Silver Buffalo Award recognizes leaders whose service to youth is broad-reaching—whether it’s the creation of exciting new programs, the organization of high-magnitude events, or bringing Scouting to under-served youth.

The award is Scouting’s highest honor, and this year’s class joins previous recipients such as Bill Gates, Robert Baden-Powell, Bob Hope, William Hillcourt, and many more.

If you’re like me, just reading about the Scouting service listed below will make you reflect, give thanks, and even inspire the question, “How can I do more?”

Carlos J. Arboleya

Miami, Fla. Lifelong Scouter, Tireless Leader, Citizen of the World

Carlos Arboleya has been called the Cuban Lord Baden-Powell—and with good reason. For decades he’s worked to bring the Scouting program to South Florida’s exile community. This work has served as a model for efforts to expand Scouting in Hispanic communities across America. A James E. West Fellow, Arboleya has received numerous Scouting honors, including the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, St. George awards, and more. Additionally, Arboleya was one of the first naturalized Cuban-Americans to lead a national bank in the U.S., retiring as vice chairman of Barnett Bank.

Jeanne Arnold

Jeanne Arnold has a knack for uniting organizations behind the common goal of improving the lives of children. Arnold enlisted the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital to work with at-risk Scouts in the Pennsylvania Dutch Council. With her husband, Ed, Jeanne is among Scouting’s most generous donors—in addition to other funds, they donated a $10 million gift to the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve to fund the Ed and Jeanne Arnold Transportation and Logistics Center. Arnold is a retired senior vice president of patient care services for Good Samaritan Health Systems.

George N. Boulukos

Freeport, N.Y. Gifted Leader, Distinguished Eagle Scout, Man of God

George Boulukos is a prominent figure in America’s Greek community, in which he’s worked tirelessly to strengthen Scouting in the Eastern Orthodox Church. During his two-decades-long service as the national chairman of the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting, Boulukos build the group from a couple of units around New York City to a far-reaching organization with hundreds of church-chartered units and large regional chapters and events across the country. The Distinguished Eagle Scout and James E. West Fellow is one of six founders of DESMOS, the International Link of Orthodox Christian Scouts. Boulukos is a retired owner of a full-service marina in Long Island and the Boulukos Insurance Agency.

Jack S. Butler II

Blairsville, Ga. Distinguished Arrowman, Proven Leader, Eagle Scout

Since he joined the National Order of the Arrow Committee in 1991, Jack Butler has been at the heart of every major OA event. Along the way, he’s served as vice chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee for more than a decade; led OA crews to Philmont, Northern Tier, and the Florida Sea Base; and taught five OA conferences at the Philmont Training Center. In addition to his Eagle Scout Award, Butler has received the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, the Vigil Honor, and more. Now retired, Butler was an account executive for Standard Register.

Raymond Capp

As chairman of the National Order of the Arrow, Raymond Capp has helped align the OA’s mission with that of the BSA. He’s also overseen some of the OA’s biggest events, including the 2011 SummitCorps project and last summer’s National Order of the Arrow Conference. Beyond the OA, Capp is a longtime supporter of the National Scouting Museum. As a board member, he’s helped the museum better connect with today’s youth. Capp currently serves as a chairman of ConduIT Corporation.

Ralph de la Vega

Alpharetta, Ga. Gifted Executive, Creative Thinker, Friend of Youth

Wherever his work has taken him, Ralph de la Vega has served local councils, often adding a critical boost to efforts to serve Hispanic/Latino Scouts. De la Vega is the chairman of the BSA’s national All Markets Committee. In this role, he’s overseen Hispanic marketing efforts and an accelerated program to create bilingual and Spanish-language versions of publications such as the Cub Scout Program Helps and core merit badge pamphlets. De la Vega is the president and CEO of AT&T Mobility.

Russell Hunsaker

Salt Lake City, Utah Gifted Leader, Visionary Planner, Man of God

As Chairman of the 411 Team—which aims to ensure that all BSA programs are appealing, exciting, and culturally relevant to today’s youth and families—Hunsaker’s work is shaping Scouting for decades to come. The James E. West Fellow has served on the national Volunteer Development Training Committee for 18 years. This summer, he will chair the Summit Center, the visitor experience area at the national jamboree. Hunsaker works as a senior guidance consultant for Fidelity Investments.

William H. Cardinal Keeler

Timonium, Md. Distinguished Eagle Scout, Friend of Youth, Man of God

Since earning his Eagle Scout Award in 1952, Cardinal Keeler has spent his life serving youth in the Roman Catholic Church and beyond. As archbishop of Baltimore from 1989 to 2007, he focused on strengthening the parochial school system—which meant raising more than $70 million to support area Catholic schools, the needs of the less fortunate, and spiritual-development programs. In 1994, Keeler was the first Eagle Scout elected to the College of Cardinals.

Steve McGowan

Cross Lanes, W.Va. Summit Pioneer, Visionary Leader, Eagle Scout

Few people not named Bechtel have shaped the development of the Summit more than Steve McGowan. When the BSA began soliciting proposals for a new high-adventure base, McGowan pulled together a unique public/private task force to develop West Virginia’s bid. Once the site was selected, he continued to arrange for legal services, lobbying, transportation, logistics, event preparation, and more. The Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the OA, and James E. West Fellow, works as an attorney for the Steptoe & Johnson firm in Charleston, W.Va.

Ellie Morrison

Ellie Morrison has quietly touched lives of Scouts and Scouters across America through the Cub Scouting program, in which she’s served as national editor of the Cub Scout How-to-Book, chaired the Cub Scout Themes Task Force, and co-chaired Cub Scouting’s 75th Anniversary. Morrison was a key member of the committee that designed Wood Badge for the 21st century and served on the pilot course staff. In her role as national commissioner support staff, she’s helped set a record for commissioner recruitment. Additionally, Morrison has served First United Methodist Church in Waco in many roles, including director of Christian education and children’s ministries.

John F. Pyfer Jr.

At this summer’s national jamboree, Pyfer will run the base camp for Venturers and international Scouts—an excellent role for someone who’s staffed 13 world and national jamborees after attending two jamborees as a Scout. His service isn’t confined to jamborees, however; Pyfer has spent 14 years on the International Committee, representing the BSA on Inter-American Scout Foundation and more. The Distinguished Eagle Scout is president and senior managing partner of the law firm Pyfer Partners, PC.

James Wilson

McLean, Va. Advocate for Youth, Gifted Leader, Eagle Scout

Thanks to Jim Wilson, today’s Scouts are better protected than every from all forms of child abuse. As a founding chairman of the National Youth Protection Committee, Wilson moved quickly to develop Cyber Chip Internet Safety Program, create partnerships with outside groups, and plan a Youth Protection “Champions” program, as well as an anti-bullying initiative. He’s also brought the same energy to his role as Northeast Region president. Now, as a former captain in the Naval Reserve, he is the principal for SLOFT Group, a consulting firm that mentors, coaches, and trains managers and leaders in the defense industry.

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Bryan on Scouting is the official blog of Scouting magazine, a Boy Scouts of America publication. Scouting magazine is published five times a year and is received by 1 million registered adult volunteers.